The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has said it aircraft has stuck terrorist hideouts in Kaduna and Zamfara States and killed several terrorists.
A statement by the NAF Spokesman, AVM Edward Gabkwet, on Sunday, said the airstrikes were carried out on August 21, 2024, at Mallum Forest in Kaduna State after intelligence revealed that most of the terrorists responsible for recent attacks on civilians, including abductions and cattle rustling within Shiroro local government area (LGA) of Niger State were domiciled in Kaduna State.
The statement said additional intelligence further revealed the sightings of the terrorists as they relocated from Alawa Forest in Niger State after their nefarious acts to their stronghold in Malum Forest in Igabi LGA of Kaduna State.
“Consequently, the Air Component planned and executed an Air Interdiction mission on 21 Aug 24 on the terrorists’ stronghold at Malum Forest.
Battle damage assessment and feedback from local sources revealed several of the terrorists were eliminated as a result of the strike,” he said.
Also, similar strikes were also conducted on terrorists’ hideouts at Bayan Ruwa in Maradun LGA of Zamfara State.
He said the terrorists were tracked to zinc-roofed structures in a vegetated area with few footpaths and a river line northwest of the location, adding that the targets were then acquired and engaged in successive passes.
Meanwhile, in the Niger Delta region of the country, the air component of Operation Delta Safe over Ohaji/Egbema in Imo State and Degema and Cawthorne Channel in Rivers State discovered and destroyed several illegal refining sites and overhead tanks.
According to the statement, “over 25 illegal sites were destroyed.”
The NAF spokesman disclosed that in Greenville, Rivers State, a leaking pipeline was discovered with the leakage spreading across over 150 metres radius with its attendant negative consequences on the vegetation, aquatic habitats and farmlands.
